Island



'(No Model!) A. R. VAUGHAN MAINSPRING WINDER.

No. 443,881. Patented Dec. 30, 1890;

C W %j ,5 K .l B @W UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

ALDEN R. VAUGHAN, OF PAIVT-UOKET, RIIQDE ISLAND.

MAINSPRING-rWINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,881, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed May 23, 1890. Serial No. 362,904. (1% model.)

- boxes, or other instruments where barrels are used for the spring.

The invention consists of various details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figurelis aside view of a Inainspringavinder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan ortop view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line :20 0c of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the under side. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal vertical section taken on line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view. Fig. 7 is avertical tranverse section taken on line .2 .2, Fig. 3. v.

The frame consists of two plates A B, held at the required distance apart by posts or spacer-blocksO, one end of which is tapped or secured to one plate and the other end fitted to receive a screw 0, that passes through the other plate. In the center of this frame is secured, but so as to revolve freely, a ratchetwheel D, through the center-of which passes a winding-arbor, shown as a square bar or spindle E, that slides freely, so as to allow the end to be adjusted to any desired width of spring. The lower end of this bar is fitted with a handle F, and the upper end is provided with a round projection 6, upon which is secured a collar G, provided with a catch or hook g. This collar I prefer to secure to the end act the spindleE by means of ascrew f, that is of a length equal to the diameter of the end eand is screwed into the same, ahole being formed in the collar G, so that after it has been placed 011 the spindle the screw is turned so as to cause it to project into the hole in the collar, as shown in Fig. 6*,thereby holding it in position.

II is a two-armed pawl fulcruined at its rear end it between the two plates A B, so, as to swing freely, and so that the end of either arm can be thrown into contact with the ratchetwheel D by means of a spring t, attached at one end to the fulcrum h and at the other end to a pawl-lever I, preferably made of wire bent to the form shown and fulcrumed between the plates A B, the lower portion t" extending a short distance below the bottom plate and formed with an arm 4?, by which either arm of the pawl can be thrown in or out of gear with the ratchet-wheel by the thumb of the operator while holding the instrument in his hand. The object of this ratchet-wheel and two-armed pawl is to allow the spindle E to be turned in either direction, so as to wind the spring either to the right or left, as required.

I J is a sliding block, through which passes a clamp K, a screw it preventing it from falling out of the block, but at the same time allowing a free vertical movement.

L is a screw that passes into the block J for clamping the jaws of the clamp K to the spring when in the required position. The outer end of this screw is provided with a cross-bar or thumb-piece Z. In each'of the plates AB is formed a slot M, through which the clamp K passes, which can be adjusted in any position in the said slots.

N is a sight-hole formed in the upper plate to allow the operator to see the spring when adjusting the jaws of clamp K.

P P are sleeves that pass through both the plates A 13, and are provided at their lower ends with cams Q, and their upper ends are screw-threaded and are formed with slots, (preferably four.)

R R are screw-threaded caps that fit on the upper ends of each of these sleeves, so that when the caps are turned down the upper ends of the sleeve are forced inward.

S S are arms bent at right angles, one end of each passing down through one of the caps B into the sleeve P, and can be adjusted and clamped at any desired height by turning down the cap R. Near the lower end of each of these arms is passed a small pin 1', that works in the slots in the upper end of the sleeve, so that they turn with the sleeves, but can be adjusted in height. The outer or free ends of these arms are bent inward, so as to ICQ form a pawl that takes into one of the spaces between the teeth on the spring barrel. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3.)

T is a screw secured in the lower plate 13 between the cams Q. Upon this screw is fitted a clamping-bar U, the upper end of which is provided with a loose collar V, which when the bar U is screwed up tightly clamps the cams Q, thereby holding the arms S firmly in place.

The cams Q, are provided with a projection q, (seeFig. 5,) so that when the cams are not clamped the arms S will be prevented from turning beyond a certain distance, as the projections q will come into contact with the screw" T.

Eaehlwi'nder' isprovided with several (preferably three) collars G for various sizes of springs: The collars that are not in use are held between the plates A B, a s shown in Fig. at. A spring-cover W which swings on one post and snapsover the other post, prevents them from falling out at the end, and there is not room for them to pass between the posts and: the end of the pawl II.

The operation is as follows: Supposing it is required to remove a spring from the barrel, the barrel is placed on the windeigasshown in dotted lines, and the arms S adjusted tothe proper height for the teethof thebarrel. The handle Fis then turned until the catch g, en

gages the spring and the barrel turned until the hook in the barrel which holds the outer end of the springcomes within about one-half inch of the jaws of clamp K. The arms S are then brought in contact with the teeth on the barrel and are thereby clamped by turning the rod U, asbefore described. The instrument is then grasped with the left hand by the end opposite the arms S with the thumb over one and the forefinger over the other of the ends of the two arms S. Then thehandleF is turned until the spring is nearly wound up This leaves the outer end of the spring so that clamp K can be adjusted to the end of the spring, and when done the jaws of clamp K are set firmly to the springby meansof screw L. The barrel can now be removed by releasing. the arms S. Then by means of arm i thelever I is pushed to the opposite sideof pawl H andthe handle F is turned upa trifle, which will allow the two-armed pawl H to act on the opposite arm and the spring will unwind. lVhen it is desired to replace the spring in the barrel, it is placed over the collar G and adjusted to hook g.

The outer end is placed in the jaws of clamp K and clamped firmly by screw L. Then the handle F is turned and winds the spring. The barrel can then be placed over the spring and the spring transferred from the winder to the barrel by releasing pawl II, letting the spring down by handle F, and releasing clamp K.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A spring-winder consisting of two plates of metal connected togetherby posts, a ratchet wheel mounted in the center between i the plates, an adjustable winding-arbor passing through the ratchet-wheel, a two-armed pawl and means for operating the same, a clamping device for holding the outer end of the spring, and arms for holding thebarrel, substantially as set forth.

I. In combination witha spring-winder, means for holding the barrel, consisting of two'bent' arms'S"; sleeves P; havingcams Q at their lower ends, capsR', screw- T, collar V, and clamping-barll, arranged and operated substantially as shown. and described.

3. In combination with a spring-winder, an adjustable clamp for holding theouterend of the spring, consisting ot the sliding block J, clamp K, and screw L, substantially as-shown and described.

4. In a spring-winder, the combination of the frame A B C, ratchet-wheel D, an adjustable windingvarbor E, handle F, and collar G with the pawl H, pawl l'ever I, and spring '11, substantially set forth.

5. In'a. spring-winder, the combination of the frame A B. Q rachet wheel D, an adjustable winding-arbor E, handle F, collar G, pawl II, pawl-lever I, and spring 1' with the adjustable block J, cl'ampK, and screw L, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a spring-winder, the frame. A B C, bent arms S, sleeves I, cams-Q, caps R, screw T, collar V, and clamping-bar U, inicombination with the ratchet-wheel D, an adjustable winding-arbor E, handle F. collar G, pawl II, pawl-lever I, spring 1', and adjustable block J, clamp K, and screwL, substantially asshown and described- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of' two subscribing witnesses, on this 1 9thdayof May, A. D. 1890.

ALDEN R. VAUGHAN.

lVitn esses:

CHAS. STEERE, EDWIN PLAN'rA- 

